China Bird Watching and Wildlife Tours

There are over 1300 species of birds recorded or expected in China! Even though China is, for the most part, a temperate landmass, this number should not be surprising, considering China’s vast territory and its diverse habitats.

Not only does China include 7% of the land mass of the entire world, but it straddles two zoogeographical zones, the Palearctic and (to a lesser degree) the Oriental Zone, a characteristic shared by only one other country, and one which is much smaller – Mexico.

It is a country of great extremes, from the highest peaks of the frozen Himalayas (+8848 meters) to the below-sea-level desert of the Turpan basin (-155 m). It stretches from the frigid tundra to the north to the tropical forests of the south, from the mountains in the west to the oceans in the east. China possesses around 25 million hectares of wetlands, including 11 million hectares of lakes and 2 million hectares of mudflats and salt marshes, all of which are important habitats for waterfowl and other species, as they migrate between summer breeding grounds and wintering areas.

China’s resident birds are special too – it is well-known for its pheasants – 62 species out of a world count of about 200 species are found within its borders. It contains half of the world’s laughing-thrushes, and 9 of the world’s 14 species of cranes migrate through, or live in, China. Over 100 species are endemic to China, or are marginally found outside its borders. China also has at least one monotypic family – the rare and sought-after Pink-tailed Bunting.

This biodiversity attracts birders from all over the world. We provide a variety of bird-watching tours, from short excursions into the bird-rich areas of Qinghai, Yunnan, Inner Mongolia, Beidahe, and the Shandong wetlands of the Yellow River, to more-extensive tours into Qinghai, Sichuan, and the Tibetan plateau! We also offer tailor-made trips for those seeking certain species or families, and for photographers. Join us for a never-to-be-forgotten adventure!

Qinghai Lake region has many islands, including Birds Island, Haixinshan Island, Guchashan Island (also called “Three stones”) and Shadao Island, which are the perfect inhabitation of migrant birds. The best season of birding is between March and early June.

The journey will take us to a heaven for ecotourists: Chinas largest National Primeval Forest Park at Mt.Wawushan (2,830m), Buddhist temples and superb primary forest at Mt.Emeishan (3,099m), the magnificent highland lake at Mugecuo (3,700m). We will probably see about 300 species of bird, including 20 endemic to China, and numerous flowering plants, including over 12 species of rhododendron.

The Yellow River Delta, which is China's largest wetland, covers an area of some 150,000 hectares. About 269 kinds of birds reside in this well-preserved natural environment. There are larks, swans, over 1400 black-mouthed gulls as well as many other precious birds at the estuary.

Situated in western China, Qinghai is the ideal place to see a mix of Central Asian specialities, Chinese/Tibetan endemics, and isolated populations of otherwise mostly Siberian species. In zoogeographic terms we will be visiting the Tibetan Plateau and its eastern fringes, with the latter showing particularly strong affinities with the least accessible parts of neighbour Sichuan Province, known for its avifaunally rich Panda reserves.

During this epic journey we will explore areas only rarely visited by western ornithologists and we have an excellent chance of finding all of the Tibetan Plateau's endemic birds. Summer is a superb time to go birding in this region, as the weather is at its mildest, breeding birds are in full song, wildflowers are at their peak and the grasslands are a dazzling shade of green, contrasting with the icy summits of the mountain ranges.

The seaside holiday resort of Beidaihe is famous not only as a tourist center but also as one of the best places in the world to see migratory birds. From ten days of April through the last ten days of May is the best season for bird watching. October brings another peak season as many birds pass through the area, going south for the winter.

Dalinor Lake, Inner Mongoliar, is a National Natural Reserve comprising grassland, lakes, wetland, sand and woods. Each year, a great number of white swans flown from Siberia are frolicking at the Dalinor Lake in October. It is an ideal place to see various birds.

Two of us enjoyed a truly wonderful tour of Guilin, Yangshuo and surrounding countryside. Many thanks to CnAdventures for providing very helpful assistance and our guide, David, who was really terrific, both accommodating and informative. The trip provided a great deal of variety as we hiked, biked and rafted through some of the most gorgeous countryside I have ever seen. An unplanned side trip to the Dragon's Backbone Rice Terrace was a most worthwhile addition to our itinerary. Another nice aspect to the trip was the opportunity to sample some excellent local food along the way--stuffed snails and sticky rice cooked in bamboo were a couple of highlights along with rice wine and osmanthus tea.

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